Xavi Hernández reviewed the present time of FC Barcelona in the League and in Champions without forgetting to the Spanish selection.

Xavi Hernandez also proved clear and told this boat sailors who will not relax. However, he had no qualms in admitting that Valencia's draw was just after roughing him in the first half.

"I saw a very good Valencia. It removed us the possession that is our force. In the second part we were basing well and we could win the game but the fair thing was a draw. Valencia dominated us in several moments of the encounter and we are not accustomed to that", he comments.

And he added: "Playing with 3-4-3 is perfect if you have the ball but if you have suffered a little. We had the feeling to have won."

Regarding the next opponents Atletico Madrid, warned of his danger as this season "have a more balanced team" with special emphasis on the new signings Diego, Arda Turan and, above all, Falcao.

Xavi joined desmiten the theory that there will be a league of two and warned that the away games will be harder than ever. "At home we have more placid games away from home but complicates the issue. I see the Malaga, Sevilla and Betis strong. Barça and Madrid will be safe up to fight for the title," he says.

Regarding the Champions League again pointed to the giants of the Premier for the title but made it clear that the intention is to defend the title story: "It makes us special pleasure to revalidate the Champions".

A similar opinion about the Spanish team about the upcoming Euro faced with the challenge of defending the title won in Vienna. In addition, denied the poor relations within the entire country and he is "ready to race"

Xavi, who has also been nominated for numerous individual awards, does not want to think of them as their sole aim is to enjoy the present moment in which one name stands out above all: Leo Messi.

"Having Messi, a spectacular player and the best of history, is very difficult to give you individual awards. Messi makes the difference" sentence.

The first team has made this one last Saturday afternoon training session at the Camp Nou before receiving, at 22 hours, at Atletico Madrid on a day marked by the celebration of the Assembly and Acts of Mercy .

As usual on game days at the stadium, the group led by Josep Guardiola has exercised this Saturday at noon for the last time before receiving their next opponents in the league, Atletico Madrid, from 22 hours in Camp Nou. And it has done in the rain that has continued in the city of Barcelona.

Gerard Pique, who after training on Friday received a medical discharge once recovered from the hamstring injury in his left leg calf, is part total of 18 first team players that Barça is its willingness to face the commitment tonight against the mattress set, corresponding to the sixth day of competition of regularity. Recall that the group is low Afellay, Iniesta and Alexis.

The subsidiary player Marc Muniesa, as in recent days, still working out staffing and continues to recover from the injury he suffers. After the training, equipment lunch at the Camp Nou and then have free time until the time of concentration in the stadium, scheduled for 20.30.

After 22 hours, Barca and Atletico Madrid will face in the sixth game of the season. Before the dispute over the party, the day in Barca will have been marked by the celebration of the General Assembly of FC Barcelona. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Atlético of striker Falcao arrives more threatening than the last seasons.
A real clásico of the League to close a Mercè with decisive Assembly.
The new defense of three or the traditional 4-3-3, great incognito of Guardiola.

One of the great classics of returns to Camp Nou League more exciting than ever. Barca and Atletico Madrid face a great day for Barcelona, ​​after the holding of an assembly of delegates in which the partner will take key decisions for the future, immediate and medium term, the entity, such as ratification by members of the sponsorship agreement with Qatar Foundation. The rojiblancos are planted in the Camp Nou in a sweet moment with a streak striker, Colombian Falcao, and the feeling that this time it can also stand up to Barca at the Camp Nou, after a recent visit catastrophic.

Indeed, the figures set Gregorio Manzano invite prudence from the viewpoint of Barca. It has only inserted up to now a goal, although the rivals are not among the theoretical ones favorite, Colombian Falcao goes in head of the chart of scorers tied with Messi and Soldado and the team mattress maker is to a single point of Barça, with seven. In contrast, the four league games he has played so far three have been at the Vicente Calderon, at home, just one game, which ended in defeat: 1-0 against Valencia.

Barca is, obviously, favorite, especially after the authority with which it broke a week ago from Osasuna and demonstrated resilience against Valencia on Wednesday: the comeback was not complete, but the second time Barça revealed the correct progression of eleven Guardiola. Barcelona coach can afford to play with the technical cluelessness rivals who can not a priori clear whether the club will play their classic 4-3-3 or whether, instead, will opt for a line of three defenses at home to Osasuna, with good results, or against Valencia in Mestalla, where system performance was more disturbing risky.

See the difficulties of Valencia and keeping in mind that Piqué that received the medical discharge, it is already clever to form defensive couple with Puyol, Pep could return to its tactical traditional drawing, with Alves covering the right wing and Cesc Fàbregas located next to Xavi like insidehalf, retarding their position lightly. Forward, Villa and Pedro accompany Messi, Busquets repitiría as midfielder and defense, if evenly with Puyol Piqué, Abidal completed as left-back behind. If you repeat the 3-4-3 Guardiola, Alves back to the far right and could be sacrificed, this time, Pedro. Iniesta, Alexis and seriously injured Afellay are low.

By red and white, the big question is the Brazilian Diego Ribas, one of its great strengths offensive, while Colombia's Falcao has already warned that the desire is to shine in the Camp Nou, just to spite the Mercè, the anniversary of the inauguration of Camp Nou Barcelona matron. The Pep, the rise, claims not to allow it. In any case, the show is guaranteed tonight between two teams that are characterized by their offensive potential. (via MD)

Pep is about to regain its central tandem stronger, Piqué-Puyol. With them, the club lost only one of the 61 league games in which they agreed in the starting.

In a week that saw the bad news of the serious injury of Ibrahim Afellay, Josep Guardiola was on the eve of the Barcelona-Atletico good, the discharge from Gerard Pique. It remains to be seen whether the technical bid to regain the starting defensive tandem form with Carles Puyol, but at least an effective recovery key for the team.

The 'Pep Team' meetings will address one of the most spectacular and difficult championship against an opponent very new at the hands of Gregorio Manzano. The question is whether Guardiola will maintain its commitment to the 3-4-3, which has given excellent results in the Nou Camp against Villarreal (5-0) and Osasuna (8-0) but instead suffered some mismatches in the difficult displacement Mestalla against Valencia (2-2). Atletico perfectly exploits the counter and has a good game for bands (Reyes is in a state of grace). Guardiola must decide whether to adopt the solution of the second half against Valencia, when Dani Alves delayed its position to the right side, or if you keep the Brazilian at the far left.

In any case, it looks like it will remain to defend Mascherano, Puyol and Abidal and Sergio Busquets will be placed as a pivote. Piqué could take minutes during the meeting, depending on what develops and needs. Do not forget that the twin hamstring in his left leg was produced on Aug. 23 during training and, therefore, just a month has been canceled.

From there, the Barcelona coach has the ability to repeat the bet a week ago, with Thiago Alcantara as lieutenant Xavi Hernandez in midfield and Cesc Fabregas at the top of the diamond, alternating with Leo Messi position to repeat again in the axis of attack as false striker.
In principle, if David Villa and Pedro Rodríguez, who occupy the bands in the attack, Cesc delay his inside left position, although it is well known that one of the keys Barca's game is the mobility of players and the exchange of positions. Instead, it seems less likely that Seydou Keita is maintained at the center of the Stadium field as usually Guardiola looks to capitalize on the possession and the rapid movement of the ball.

It is already known that the most extreme option in this sense is to incorporate in the team to Thiago and bet on the 3-4-3 again, although then they start up in the stool one of the two men again that habitually play in winger in the attack of the team: or Pedro, or David Villa. (via SPORT)

The Barça manager is impressed with Atlético Madrid and what their manager, Gregorio Manzano, has achieved. Guardiola was also sorry that Afellay is injured but delighted to announce Piqué’s return.

“People coming to the stadium will see a fantastic football match” said Guardiola, as he also rightly said ahead of the game with Valencia. A game against Atlético Madrid always promises excitement, and asked to comment on his rival coach, Manzano, the Barça boss said “it is a completely different team to a few years ago. You can tell that Manzano has had a hand in things. They play very good football and not just on the counter attack. They’ve made some good signings and are they can play well in all positions”.

Guardiola said it was great news that Gerard Piqué was declared fit on Friday. “He is a top class footballer and essential for us because of his competitive spirit. But we have managed to get by without him, as we did last season when we had to make do without Puyol. The good thing is I have more players to choose from and can rotate the bench”.

But on a negative note, Afellay is going to be out for several months through injury. “It is some drama because he’s a sensitive lad” said Guardiola. “He was in shock at first because it’s his first serious injury. He’s feeling better now and we’ll have to make sure we are there to support him through this. I’m sure he’ll be back to help us later in the season”.

Despite three early draws this season, one in the Champions League and two in La Liga, Josep Guardiola is happy with the way things are going. “It is hardly bad to start a season with two Supercups against such strong teams as Real Madrid and Porto. I am sure we’ve made mistakes because we’re not getting results but teams tend to play without complexes at the start of a season and surprise results can happen. It is healthy that teams can surprise you by playing so well because it means you have to rectify and improve”.

Guardiola also spoke about how Barça are by no means invincible, saying “we’ll definitely drop more points. I don’t think we are that good or that consistent. Also, they all want to beat us. A team is never a finished product. You can always improve areas of your game and there will always be opponents able to cause problems.”
(via FCBarcelona.cat)

The Barça defender has been given medical clearance and is therefore available for selection by Pep Guardiola for Saturday’s game with Atlético Madrid. Piqué hasn’t played since the Spanish Supercup game with Real Madrid.

Piqué has been sidelined for a month with a hamstring injury which has meant he has yet to play any Liga games and also missed the European Supercup game in Monaco and the Champions League meeting with AC Milan. He hasn’t appeared for Barça since the second leg of the Spanish Supercup game at Camp Nou in mid August.

Pep Guardiola may well include the centre back in his team to face Atlético Madrid on Saturday. The team trained this evening as they get ready for that match, which kicks off at the Camp Nou at 10.00. Ibrahim Afellay was missing after tearing cruciate ligaments in his left knee on Thursday. Alexis Sánchez and Andrés Iniesta were also absent through injury.

Reserve player Marc Muniesa is also recovering from his own injury and joined the first team for training on pitch 2 at the Ciutat Esportiva.

This Saturday, as usual for home matches, the squad will train again at 12.30 in the morning behind closed doors at the Camp Nou. (via FCBarcelona.cat)

The FC Barcelona was awarded Thursday at the ceremony Superbrands Awards, an organization that recognizes excellence in the field of branding in over 80 countries around the world, along with other prestigious brands such as Bayer, Bimbo, Coca-Cola, Cruzcampo, Google and Repsol.

The awards, which are internationally considered the "Óscar del Branding', involve the granting of the Superbrands status, which stands for "Mark of Excellence" in all countries where the organization is present and also are synonymous with market consolidation, quality assurance and confidence to their audiences. The selected brands will also wear the Superbrands seal in all communications both nationally and internationally.

The selection process for Superbrands 2011 with the participation of a Council of Experts, consisting of a selection of accredited professionals from the world of marketing and branding, carrying out their activity in prestigious companies, business associations, universities, schools Business and publications sector. This advice is the responsabl of identifying a list with 350 marks that later on underwent to the valuation of more than 3.000 consumers through a study designed by the one credited consultant Reputation Institute.

Laurent Collette, director of Marketing and Exploitation of FC Barcelona, ​​was commissioned to collect the award at a gala held in the Gallery space rock. (via SPORT)

As winner of the last edition, the '10' azulgrana has begun the votings for the prize FIFPro 2011. Barça included up to six players in the ideal team of the 2010.

Leo Messi has given the green light to vote FIFPro award 2011, which annually recognizes the best player in the world and the ideal team, according to the World Association of Professional Football. The Argentine star, current winner of the Absolute, has introduced their vote in a ballot box at the Ciudad Deportiva Joan Gamper, with a representation of the AFE and the FIFPro.

Other players in the squad Barcelona have seized the day prior to training to exercise their right to vote. In total, about 45,000 players around the world choose the best footballer on the planet and the team at the 2011 gala. The voting period will close in mid-November and then know the name of the 55 finalists. The seventh edition of FIFPro awards gala will be presented at the 2011 Golden Ball FIFA in January.

Messi addition, in the latest edition of the awards were chosen FIFPro five more in the team Barca ideal 2010: Piqué, Puyol, Iniesta, Xavi and Villa. The six participants in the ceremony of awards in Zurich. (via FCBarcelona.cat)